Why Evangelicals Should Care About the Next Pope

Over 200,000 people are expected to attend Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday in Rome, a global event that will draw leaders from every corner of the world, including President Donald Trump.

After news of the pontiff’s death broke on Easter Monday, President Trump took to Truth Social and declared, “Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!” He later told reporters that the late pope was “a very good man who loved, loved the world, and he especially loved people that were having a hard time, and that’s good with me.”

Many of the world’s nearly 1.4 billion Catholics will be tuned in to the solemn procession and Mass. They’ll witness all the traditional liturgy and hear readings from Acts, Paul’s letter to the Philippians, as well as John’s Gospel. It will conclude with the “Gloria Patri,” a Latin doxology that ends with the phrase, “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.”

In between, evangelicals will find portions of the prayers and some of the elements of the funeral Mass theologically troublesome, especially prayers and petitions to Mary, the mother of Jesus.

But doctrinal and theological differences aside, non-Catholic believers should be following the next chapter in Rome with interest.

The Papal Conclave is scheduled to begin May 6. The word “conclave” means “private room” in Latin. At this point, 135 of the church’s cardinals will be meeting in the Sistine Chapel to begin the selection of the next pope. It’s famously secretive. The only sign of what’s going on inside will be signaled by black smoke or white smoke, the latter to indicate they’ve successfully landed on a new leader of Catholics.

Over time, popes have served an oversized role in the world, and for good and bad. Centuries ago, Pope Alexander VI was accused of buying his way into the Vatican, killed cardinals for their wealth, and even fathered children. Popes have been accused of ordering their predecessor’s death (Sergius III), and almost bankrupting the church (Pope Leo X). Some have accused Pope Pius XII (1939-1958) of doing little to confront Hitler for the holocaust. The Catholic Church has pushed back and says his secret work to save the lives of Jewish people will be revealed in forthcoming church documents.

Lately, though, popes tend to reflect an era – or do they help shape it by their personality, passions, commitments and convictions?

When Karol Wojtyla, a.k.a. the newly elected Pope John Paul II, delivered his inaugural homily to the throngs gathered in Rome’s St. Peter’s Square in 1979, he implored those gathered:

Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to welcome Christ and accept His power … Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ. To His saving power open the boundaries of States, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows “what is in man.” He alone knows it.

Of course, the pope was quoting Jesus, who said to Peter and to all of us: “Take courage … Don’t be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). He was also quoting the Lord in the Book of Joshua: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Matthew 1:9).

Pope John Paul II, known for his courage and boldness, has been credited with helping to force the collapse of the Soviet Union.

John Paul II’s successor, Benedict XVI, was known to advocate for the church and world to adhere to biblical values.

“It is a search for the true, the good and the beautiful,” he said. “It is to this end that we make our choices; it is for this that we exercise our freedom; it is in this – in truth, in goodness and in beauty – that we find happiness and joy.”

Conversely, Pope Francis is probably best known for reimagining church convictions or priorities related to sexual sin and even divorce. He once said, “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?”

Is it mere coincidence that the last decade has seen a broad collapse of biblical truth and an expansion of all kinds of destructive and damaging behavior? It’s not the pope who has committed the grievous sins, but leaders often set the tone and either encourage or discourage certain behaviors.

Speculation is running rampant on who the next pope will be. Pope Francis has appointed 108 of the 135 cardinals who will be voting, a fact that some feel is an indicator the next leader of the Catholic Church will be a lot like the latest. But perhaps not. Evangelicals should be paying attention and praying for the process and for a leader who will reflect God’s truth and grace in a world desperately hungry for it.

Image from Getty.